It means everything ... Mark Tompsett bags bronze on Paralympics debut

Mark Tompsett secured a Paralympic Games bronze medal in his only event at Paris 2024 and admitted: “It means everything.”

Tompsett had to wait until the penultimate day of Paris 2024 for his first swim in the Paris La Defense Arena – and it proved to be hugely successful for the 17-year-old.

First, he broke his own British record in the Men’s SB14 100m Backstroke as he clocked 59.19 in the morning heats.

Then he clawed his way onto the podium with an impressive final 50m to edge out his British team-mate William Ellard.

Tompsett touched home in a time of 59.21, with Ellard only 0.16 seconds adrift in fourth. Louis Lawlor took seventh spot in 1:00.52

Bolton Metro Swim Squad’s Tompsett said: “It’s amazing. I don’t know how to explain it – it means everything really.

“It’s been a good day getting a British record and beating my PB, which I’ve not beaten for a while, and then almost getting it again tonight which is just amazing.”

It’s been a whirlwind few months for Tompsett, who won European gold in Madiera on his international debut with the British team earlier this year.

He said: “Amazing really how quick it’s all been in no time and getting here now.

“A year ago me would not know what he’s done. They’d be like ‘what? Really? No way’. But it means everything.”

Maisie’s high five

Maisie Summers-Newton admitted she was ‘chuffed’ after winning a fifth Paralympic medal of her career at the end of an ‘amazing’ Games.

The 22-year-old took bronze in the Women’s S6 400m Freestyle as she finished one place better than she did in the same race at the rearranged Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Summers-Newton had already won gold in the Women’s SB6 100m Breaststroke and Women’s SM6 200m Individual Medley at the La Defense Arena and went into the race as the third-fastest qualifier.

From an early stage, Summers-Newton was in a battle for silver with Switzerland’s Nora Meister and was less than a second adrift at the halfway stage.

However, Meister pulled clear in the second half of the race and Summers-Newton had to settle for the bronze as she touched home in a time of 5:21.36.

Summers-Newton said it had been an amazing experience competing in Paris, adding: “Yeah, I’m chuffed with that.

“I was going in third so my expectation was to try and come away with a medal.

“You know, this season, we’ve definitely just been working on the IM and the breaststroke and I think that’s kind of showed in the races that I’ve done so far.

“I think training for the IM and the breaststroke kind of complements the front crawl in a way.

“You know, I’ve always got that fitness so I just wanted to come in, enjoy it, soak up the atmosphere and it was pretty near my PB so, yeah, I’m pleased with that.

“And to get another medal out of my second Paralympic Games, I’m really, really pleased.

“It’s been spectacular. You know, I imagined it would be amazing but never this amazing.

“I just remember the first day walking out and like, I was so nervous at the same time, having that crowd and that cheer it just made me feel so happy.

“Definitely a couple of weeks I’ll never ever forget.

“It’s just been great and to finish it off with a medal and a pretty decent time in my 400 I couldn’t be much proud of myself. .

“I can’t thank everyone enough for coming along and supporting and my coach. Everyone, just thank you.”